Printer maintenance guide device and printer maintenance guide method

ABSTRACT

A printer maintenance guide device includes a guide command button for commanding a maintenance guide for a maintenance work, and a moving image memory storing moving images for successively and continuously displaying a whole process of the maintenance guide from start to end at once on a display unit by the operation of the guide command button.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser.No. 15/107,627, filed Jun. 23, 2016, which is the National Stage ofApplication No. PCT/JP2014/084356 filed on Dec. 25, 2014, which is basedupon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Application No.2013-268271, filed Dec. 26, 2013, the entire contents of all of whichare incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a printer maintenance guide device anda printer maintenance guide method and particularly to a printermaintenance guide device and a printer maintenance guide method designedto display a maintenance guide using moving images according to variouserror contents or various maintenance operations in a printer.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, when a certain error or trouble occurs in a state wherea printer is operated by one of various printing methods, the content ofthat error is displayed on a display unit of the printer (e.g. displayformed of liquid crystal or the like) and an error warning is also givenby voice if necessary. A printer thus configured is disclosed inJP2000-3262A.

There are various contents of the error such as the exhaustion of aprint paper sheet, the intermediate breakage of the print paper sheet,the exhaustion of a thermal transfer ink ribbon and the intermediatebreakage of the thermal transfer ink ribbon in the case of a thermaltransfer printing method, a paper sheet jam and a ribbon jam, a troubleof a printing head, a trouble of a detection unit caused by varioussensors such as a position detection sensor and, further, troubles of aprint paper sheet cutting unit, an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification)antenna unit equipped according to need, and a user using the printergenerally needs to deal with such errors.

The procedure of an error processing guide corresponding to an errorcontent is, for example, displayed for this dealing process. As atechnique for this display, pictures, moving images and the like may beadopted according to a status of progress of an error processing work.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

However, it is difficult for a novice or an unfamiliar person apart frompeople familiar with such an error processing work to grasp the entireerror processing work since the next work procedure is first displayedin the pictures, the moving images and the like after a certain work isperformed, and the novice or the unfamiliar person is anxious aboutwhether or not the work he just performed is really proper, what willhappen if another work is performed, how the next procedure is and thelike. Thus, it is difficult to perform the work smoothly and easily atease.

Further, it is necessary to provide a sensor for detecting each statusor state of progress of the error processing work as a mechanismequipped in the printer.

Further, even if no error occurs in the operation of the printer, thereare cases where it is necessary to confirm various maintenance works ofperforming various maintenance operations similar to an error processingcorresponding to the error content. Also in such a case, it is desiredto perform an actual work smoothly and easily at ease after the entiremaintenance work is first grasped.

The present invention was developed in view of the problems as describedabove and aims to provide a printer maintenance guide device and aprinter maintenance guide method enabling a maintenance work to beeasily performed.

In aspects of the present invention described below, it is focused todisplay a whole process of a maintenance guide at once by moving imageswhen an error or trouble occurs in the operation of each part (adetection unit and, further, a cutting unit and an RFID antenna unitpossibly equipped in the printer, let alone a print paper sheet feedunit and a printing unit) or when it is necessary to confirm amaintenance work.

According to a first aspect, there is provided a printer maintenanceguide device with a printer main body, a print paper sheet feed unit forfeeding a print paper sheet, a printing unit for performing printing onthe print paper sheet and an operation unit and a display unit foroperating the printing unit, the printer maintenance guide deviceincluding a guide command button enabling a content of an error to bedisplayed on the display unit when the error occurs in the operation ofthe printer and configured to command a maintenance guide for amaintenance work of solving the error, and a moving image memory storingmoving images for successively and continuously displaying a wholeprocess of the maintenance guide from start to end at once on thedisplay unit by the operation of the guide command button.

According to a second aspect, there is provided a printer maintenanceguide device with a printer main body, a print paper sheet feed unit forfeeding a print paper sheet, a printing unit for performing printing onthe print paper sheet and an operation unit and a display unit foroperating the printing unit, the printer maintenance guide deviceincluding a guide command button enabling any one of various maintenanceoperations of the printer to be selected by displaying contents of thevarious maintenance operations on the display unit and configured tocommand a maintenance guide for a maintenance work of performing theselected maintenance operation, and a moving image memory storing movingimages for successively and continuously displaying a whole process ofthe maintenance guide from start to end at once on the display unit bythe operation of the guide command button.

Further, there is provided a printer maintenance guide device with aprinter main body, a print paper sheet feed unit for feeding a printpaper sheet, a printing unit for performing printing on the print papersheet and an operation unit and a display unit for operating theprinting unit, wherein a display area is divided into a plurality ofnecessary areas in the display unit when an error occurs in theoperation of the printer, at least a content of the error and a guidecommand mark as a help icon for a maintenance work of solving the errorare displayed, the guide command mark is confirmed, the displaying ofmoving images is requested by the operation of a guide command buttonfor commanding a maintenance guide for the maintenance work of solvingthe error and moving images of the maintenance guide corresponding tothe error content are displayed on the display unit on the basis of therequest.

According to a third aspect, there is provided a printer maintenanceguide method with a printer main body, a print paper sheet feed unit forfeeding a print paper sheet, a printing unit for performing printing onthe print paper sheet and an operation unit and a display unit foroperating the printing unit, the printer maintenance guide methodincluding displaying a content of an error on the display unit when theerror occurs in the operation of the printer, and successively andcontinuously displaying a whole process of a maintenance guide for amaintenance work of solving the error from start to end at once on thedisplay unit by moving images by the operation of a guide command buttonprovided to command the maintenance guide.

According to a fourth aspect, there is provided a printer maintenanceguide method with a printer main body, a print paper sheet feed unit forfeeding a print paper sheet, a printing unit for performing printing onthe print paper sheet and an operation unit and a display unit foroperating the printing unit, the printer maintenance guide methodincluding displaying contents of various maintenance operations of theprinter on the display unit, selecting any one of the maintenanceoperations, and successively and continuously displaying a whole processof a maintenance guide for a maintenance work of performing the selectedmaintenance operation from start to end at once on the display unit bymoving images by the operation of a guide command button provided tocommand the maintenance guide.

A guide stop button capable of pausing and resuming the moving imagesmay be provided.

A guide rewind button enabling the moving images to be rewound to astart screen and played back may be provided.

An audio guide corresponding to the maintenance guide together with themoving images may be provided.

A language guide corresponding to the maintenance guide together withthe moving images may be displayed.

A required time of the maintenance guide together with the moving imagesmay be displayed

A mounting angle of the display unit may be switched and the displayunit enables the maintenance work to be performed while the movingimages are viewed.

The display unit may be so arranged that the maintenance work isexecutable in the printer main body in accordance with the maintenanceguide.

The display unit may be detachably attachable to the printer main body.

The moving images may be displayed an essential guide part which is anessential part of the maintenance guide in a still state for apredetermined set time.

A human sensor may be provided near the display unit, and the movingimages may be be paused when the human sensor is not sensing an operatornear the display unit.

In the printer maintenance guide device and the printer maintenanceguide method according to the above aspects, the whole process of themaintenance guide is displayed at once by the moving images. Thus, evena novice or an unfamiliar person can perform a necessary work and beguided to reliably perform the work at ease after grasping the entiremaintenance guide, i.e. after recognizing the entire operation.

Particularly, according to the printer maintenance guide device of thefirst aspect, the moving image memory enabling the whole process of themaintenance guide to be displayed at once is provided. Thus, when anerror occurs in the printer, the operator can start a necessary workafter grasping the whole process of the maintenance work correspondingto the error content.

Particularly, according to the printer maintenance guide device of thesecond aspect, the moving image memory enabling the whole process of themaintenance guide for an arbitrary maintenance operation to be displayedat once is provided. Thus, the operator can start a necessary work aftergrasping the whole process of the maintenance work corresponding to theselected maintenance operation according to need.

Particularly, according to the printer maintenance guide method of thethird aspect, the whole process of the maintenance guide correspondingto an error content is displayed at once by the moving images when anerror occurs in the printer. Thus, the operator can be guided to start anecessary work after grasping the whole process.

Particularly, according to the printer maintenance guide method of thefourth aspect, the whole process of the maintenance guide for anarbitrary maintenance operation is displayed at once by the movingimages. Thus, the operator can be guided to start a necessary work aftergrasping the whole process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printer (e.g. thermal transfer labelprinter) by an arbitrary printing method equipped with a maintenanceguide device according to an embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the thermal transfer label printer,

FIG. 3 is a diagram of an operation unit and a display unit provided onone side surface of a printer main body,

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control unit of the thermal transferlabel printer,

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a maintenance guide method by the maintenanceguide device,

FIG. 6A is a schematic side view showing the interior of the printermain body with an opening/closing cover opened,

FIG. 6B is a schematic side view showing a process of removing a labelcontinuous body remaining in a printing unit and a support tube of thelabel continuous body remaining in a print paper sheet feed unit(holding shaft) by rotating and opening a thermal head to be separatedfrom a platen roller,

FIG. 6C is a schematic side view showing a process of holding a newlabel continuous body on the holding shaft and inserting it between thethermal head and the platen roller, and

FIG. 6D is a schematic side view showing a process of nipping the labelcontinuous body together with a thermal transfer ink ribbon by rotatingand closing the thermal head with respect to the platen roller.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

In an embodiment of the present invention, a printer maintenance guidedevice and a printer maintenance guide method are realized which aredesigned to display a whole process of a maintenance guide at once bymoving images and enable even a novice or an unfamiliar person toperform a necessary maintenance work and be guided to reliably performthe work at ease after grasping the whole maintenance guide.

A printer maintenance guide device and a printer maintenance guidemethod according to the embodiment of the present invention aredescribed below on the basis of FIGS. 1 to 6D.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printer (e.g. thermal transfer labelprinter 1) by an arbitrary printing method and FIG. 2 is a schematicside view of the thermal transfer label printer 1. The thermal transferlabel printer 1 includes a printer main body 2, a print paper sheet feedunit 4 for print paper sheet (label continuous body 3), a detection unit5, a printing unit 6, an operation unit 7, a display unit 8, a powerswitch 9 and a control unit 10.

The printer main body 2 includes an opening/closing cover 12 which canbe opened and closed about a cover opening/closing shaft 11, and a workof mounting the label continuous body 3 or a thermal transfer ink ribbon(described later) and a maintenance work to be described later can beperformed in the thermal transfer label printer 1 as shown in FIG. 2 byopening the opening/closing cover 12.

Also, the printed label continuous body 3 is ejected from a labelissuance opening 13 between the printer main body 2 and theopening/closing cover 12.

The label continuous body 3 is a label of an arbitrary form such as alabel with a liner sheet or a linerless label, and is rotatably mountedon a holding shaft 14 of the print paper sheet feed unit 4 in a staterolled on a support tube 3A. A tag not coated with an adhesive layer orthe like may be adopted as the print paper sheet.

The strip-like label continuous body 3 can be fed in a direction towardthe detection unit 5 and the printing unit 6 via a guide roller 16 on atransfer path 15 from the print paper sheet feed unit 4.

The detection unit 5 includes a position detection sensor 17 and candetect a relative positional relationship of the label continuous body 3with the printing unit 6 by detecting a position detection mark (notshown) printed in advance, for example, on the underside of the labelcontinuous body 3.

The printing unit 6 includes a thermal head 18, a platen roller 19 and aribbon supply shaft 21 and a ribbon roll-up shaft 22 for a thermaltransfer ink ribbon 20.

The label continuous body 3 and the thermal transfer ink ribbon 20 areoverlapped and nipped at a predetermined printing pressure between thethermal head 18 and the platen roller 19, predetermined information canbe printed on the label continuous body 3 by rotating and driving theplaten roller 19 and supplying print data to the thermal head 18, andthe label continuous body 3 and the thermal transfer ink ribbon 20 ejectthe printed label continuous body 3 from the label issuance opening 13.

Further, the thermal head 18 is openable and closable with respect tothe platen roller 19 by being rotated about a head opening/closing shaft23 thereof, thereby enabling the label continuous body 3 and the thermaltransfer ink ribbon 20 to be mounted between the thermal head 18 and theplaten roller 19.

Also, a cutting unit (not shown) including a cutter may be provideddownstream of the printing unit 6 or the label issuance opening 13according to need or an RFID antenna unit (not shown) may also bemounted at a predetermined position of the transfer path 15.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of the operation unit 7 and the display unit 8provided on one side surface of the printer main body 2.

The operation unit 7 includes a pair of left and right function keys 24,a cancel key 25, navigation keys 26, a play/pause key 27 and an enterkey 28.

The function key 24 can switch its function according to an operationmode of the thermal transfer label printer 1.

The cancel key 25 returns a display on the display unit 8 to oneprevious screen.

The navigation keys 26 include two pairs of upper and lower, right andleft arrow keys, i.e. an up-direction arrow key 26A, a down-directionarrow key 26B, a right-direction arrow key 26C and a left-directionarrow key 26D.

The play/pause key 27 functions as an online/offline changeover buttonand a guide stop button capable of pausing and resuming moving images tobe described later.

The enter key 28 is a button for determining a selected content.

The display unit 8 includes a liquid crystal display 29 and a lightemitting diode 30 is mounted at a position above the liquid crystaldisplay.

The liquid crystal display 29 can display various contents necessary tooperate the thermal transfer label printer 1 and its printing unit 6 andcan successively and continuously display a whole process of amaintenance guide for a maintenance work of solving an error from startto end at once by moving images (arbitrary moving images such asphotographed images including video images and animation) particularlywhen this error occurs in the operation of the thermal transfer labelprinter 1. Further, the liquid crystal display 29 can display amaintenance guide corresponding to a selected one of various maintenanceoperations of the thermal transfer label printer 1 regardless of theoccurrence of an error.

The light emitting diode 30 is lighted when the power switch 9 is turnedon and performs light emission processings corresponding to variousoperations.

Also, a human sensor 31 is mounted at an arbitrary position such as thevicinity of the display unit 8 of the printer main body 2 so that anoperator near or before the thermal transfer label printer 1 (displayunit 8) can be sensed.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the control unit 10 of the thermal transferlabel printer 1. The control unit 10 includes a CPU 32, a ROM 33, a RAM34, an interface 35, a moving image memory 36, a head controller 37, aplaten roller controller 38, a position detection sensor controller 39,an operation controller 40, a display controller 41 and a human sensorcontroller 42.

An arbitrary personal computer 43 is connected to the interface 35, andthe thermal transfer label printer 1 can be controlled according toneed. Needless to say, the thermal transfer label printer 1 can alsoindependently operate.

A maintenance guide device 44 is configured by the control unit 10, theoperation unit 7 and the display unit 8 described above.

In the thermal transfer label printer 1 and the maintenance guide device44 thus configured, a whole process of a maintenance guide can besuccessively and continuously displayed from start to end thereof atonce on the display unit 8 (liquid crystal display 29) by moving imagesby the maintenance guide device 44 for various maintenance operationsnecessary for the thermal transfer label printer 1 when an error occursin the operation of the thermal transfer label printer 1 or even if noerror has occurred.

Specifically, FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a maintenance guide method bythe maintenance guide device 44. In Step S1, it is judged whether or notany error has occurred in the thermal transfer label printer 1.

Contents of the error include the exhaustion of the label continuousbody 3 and the thermal transfer ink ribbon 20, a paper sheet jam, aribbon jam and the like as described above. The following description isgiven, taking as an example a case where the label continuous body 3 hasbeen exhausted.

When an error occurs, a display type is specified in Step S2.

Specifically, the exhaustion of the label continuous body 3 is specifiedas an error content and the exhaustion of the label continuous body 3 isdisplayed (i.e. the content of the specified display type is displayed)on the display unit 8 (liquid crystal display 29), thereby presenting itto the operator in Step S3.

In the present embodiment, as a display example of this error content,an error content 29A to the effect that the “label continuous body 3 hasbeen exhausted”, a time 29B with a clock function such as “13:00” and aguide command mark 29C such as by “? mark” as a help icon are displayedwith the liquid crystal display 29 divided into a plurality of necessarydisplay areas, for example, as shown in FIG. 3.

The enter key 28 is used in addition to the guide command mark 29C as aguide command button for commanding a maintenance guide for amaintenance work of solving this error.

A plan can be notified to the operator by clearly specifying a requiredtime of the maintenance guide such as “moving images of maintenanceguide are displayed for 50 seconds”, for example, in the display area ofthe time 29B together with a display of the error content 29A.

In Step S4, it is judged whether or not moving images are to bedisplayed.

Specifically, the operator confirms this guide command mark 29C andrequests the display of the moving images by pressing the enter key 28,and the playback of the moving images is started on the basis of thisrequest (Step S5). Also, the operator who needs not view the maintenanceguide may perform a predetermined maintenance work without operating theenter key 28.

The whole process of the maintenance guide from start to end can besuccessively and continuously displayed at once on the display unit 8(liquid crystal display 29) by moving images by the operation of thisguide command button (enter key 28 corresponding to the display of theguide command mark 29C).

Of course, necessary moving images are prepared in the moving imagememory 36 according to each error content.

The operator mounts and sets the label continuous body 3 in the thermaltransfer label printer 1 (i.e. performs the maintenance work) to solvethis error by reference to this maintenance guide by the moving images.

Also, the operator can stop/play back the content of the moving imagesaccording to need and confirm the content at his own pace by providing aguide stop button (play/pause key 27) capable of pausing and resumingthe moving images.

Further, the moving images can be played back a necessary number oftimes by providing a guide rewind button (up-direction arrow key 26A)enabling the moving images to be rewound to the start screen. Also, thecancel key 25 may be allotted as the guide rewind button.

Also, instead of providing the operation unit 7 with the play/pause key27, the cancel key 25, the navigation keys 26, the enter key 28 and thelike as mechanical buttons, the guide command button (enter key 28 orguide command mark 29C), the guide stop button (play/pause key 27), theguide rewinding button (cancel key 25 or navigation keys 26) or the likeof a touch panel type may be displayed on the liquid crystal display 29of the display unit 8.

FIGS. 6A to 6D are diagrams showing an example of these moving images asessential screens. FIG. 6A is a schematic side view showing the interiorof the printer main body 2 with the opening/closing cover 12 opened.FIG. 6B is a schematic side view showing a process of removing the labelcontinuous body 3 remaining in the printing unit 6 and the support tube3A of the label continuous body 3 remaining in the print paper sheetfeed unit 4 (holding shaft 14) by rotating and opening the thermal head18 to be separated from the platen roller 19. FIG. 6C is a schematicside view showing a process of holding a new label continuous body 3 onthe holding shaft 14 and inserting it between the thermal head 18 andthe platen roller 19. FIG. 6D is a schematic side view showing a processof nipping the label continuous body 3 together with the thermaltransfer ink ribbon 20 by rotating and closing the thermal head 18 withrespect to the platen roller 19.

Specifically, by viewing the moving image represented by FIG. 6A, theoperator can confirm that there is no more label continuous body 3 onthe holding shaft 14 of the print paper sheet feed unit 4 and a smallrear end part of the label continuous body 3 is remaining in theprinting unit 6 when the opening/closing cover 12 is opened.

A transfer is made from the moving image of FIG. 6A to that of FIG. 6Band, by viewing the moving image represented by FIG. 6B, the operatorcan confirm the removal of the remaining label continuous body 3 (see anarrow 3B for supplementary explanation in FIG. 6B) and the removal ofthe support tube 3A of the label continuous body 3 (see an arrow 3C forsupplementary explanation in FIG. 6B) by rotating and opening thethermal head 18 to be separated from the platen roller 19 (see an arrow18A for supplementary explanation in FIG. 6B).

A transfer is made from the moving image of FIG. 6B to that of FIG. 6Cand, by viewing the moving image represented by FIG. 6C, the operatorcan confirm to set a new label continuous body 3 on the holding shaft 14and insert the label continuous body 3 between the thermal head 18 andthe platen roller 19 via the guide roller 16 (see an arrow 3D forsupplementary explanation in FIG. 6C).

A transfer is made from the moving image of FIG. 6C to that of FIG. 6Dand, by viewing the moving image represented by FIG. 6D, the operatorcan confirm to nip the label continuous body 3 together with the thermaltransfer ink ribbon 20 by rotating and closing the thermal head 18 withrespect to the platen roller 19 (see an arrow 18B for supplementaryexplanation in FIG. 6D).

Also, the moving images are so created that the operator can reliablysee and confirm essential guide parts by enabling the essential guideparts which are essential parts of the maintenance guide, e.g. each ofthe scenes displayed in FIGS. 6A to 6D, to be displayed in a still statefor a predetermined set time so as not be overlooked.

Alternatively, it is also possible to discontinuously display only eachessential guide part (e.g. only essential guide parts shown in FIGS. 6Ato 6D) by operating the right-direction arrow key 26C and theleft-direction arrow key 26D on the basis of the operator's intention.

Further, the human sensor 31 is provided near the display unit 8 and itis possible to pause the moving images when this human sensor 31 sensesno operator near the display unit 8 and control to automatically resumethe moving images from the stopped image when the human sensor 31 sensesthe operator again.

Also, in the present embodiment, a mounting angle of the display unit 8(liquid crystal display 29) with respect to the printer main body 2 canbe switched between a mounting surface for the display unit 8 and theoperation unit 7 and a surface substantially at a right-angle positionparticularly as shown by a virtual line in FIGS. 1 and 2. Themaintenance work can be easily performed while the moving images areviewed as described above by making an angle of viewing the interior ofthe printer main body 2 (posture of the operator) and an angle ofviewing the liquid crystal display 29 (posture of the operator)substantially equal.

Specifically, the display unit 8 (liquid crystal display 29) can bearranged on a surface identical or equivalent to the surface where theinterior of the printer main body 2 can be looked over so that themaintenance work can be performed in the printer main body 2 while themoving images of the maintenance guide are viewed.

Further, the display unit 8 (liquid crystal display 29) enables theoperator to perform the maintenance work in the printer main body 2 inan arbitrary posture easy to view the liquid crystal display 29 by beingmade detachably attachable to the printer main body 2 and in a statewhere wired or wireless data communication with the control unit 10 ofthe printer main body 2 is possible.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, an audio guide corresponding tothe maintenance guide can be provided by an arbitrary technique togetherwith the moving images as described above.

Further, a language guide corresponding to the maintenance guide can bedisplayed together with the moving images on the liquid crystal display29. This language guide can be prepared integrally to or separately fromthe moving images and the language guide of each language can beprepared.

In Step S6 following the playback of the moving images in Step S5, it isjudged whether or not the error has been solved. A return is made toStep S1 unless the error has been solved, whereas a standby screen isdisplayed in Step S7 to indicate that the thermal transfer label printer1 is in a state capable of the next printing operation when the errorhas been solved.

Also, a control to transfer to Step S7 is possible by the operatorpressing a predetermined button (e.g. play/pause key 27) afterperforming a series of maintenance processings including those of FIGS.6A to 6D.

When no error has occurred in the thermal transfer label printer 1 inStep S1, it is judged in Step S8 whether or not to perform printing bythe thermal transfer label printer 1. When printing is to be performed,a print layout and print data are obtained and printing is performed inStep S9 and a still image of the print layout being currently printed isdisplayed in Step S10.

Unless printing is to be performed in Step S8, it is judged in Step S11whether or not an information screen is on display.

Here, the information screen is a screen enabling the operator toarbitrarily select a predetermined function or processing from a menuscreen displayed on the liquid crystal display 29 of the display unit 8by a tree structure. Since this information screen is displayed in amode different from the one in which the error content 29A and the guidecommand mark 29C of the liquid crystal display 29 are displayed, anaccess can be made by selecting an information mark 29D such as by an “imark” as shown by a virtual line in FIG. 3 by means of the enter key 28or the like.

Unless this information screen is selected, an exit is made from thisseries of processings.

The display of the information screen is selected and it is judged inStep S12 whether or not the operator is requesting a guidance screen inthe information screen. When it is requested, a transfer is made to StepS2 to specify the display type and the processings in Step S3 andsubsequent Steps described above are performed.

Here, the guidance screen is a screen including maintenance guides inthe event of errors and listing up the maintenance guides for amaintenance work of performing various maintenance operations of thethermal transfer label printer 1, and displayed on the liquid crystaldisplay 29 similarly to the information screen, and the operator canselect or instruct an arbitrary maintenance guide by means of thenavigation keys 26 and the enter key 28 (guide command button).

Specifically, in the maintenance guide device 44 according to thepresent embodiment, the moving images displayed on the display unit 8can show the maintenance guides for the maintenance work of performingvarious maintenance operations of the thermal transfer label printer 1,including the maintenance guides in the event of errors.

The various maintenance operations include general operations such as anexchanging work and a cleaning work of the position detection sensor 17,the thermal head 18 and the platen roller 19 and, further, the cuttingunit and an RFID antenna provided according to need, and various buttonoperations, let alone the mounting of the label continuous body 3 andthe thermal transfer ink ribbon 20 into the thermal transfer labelprinter 1 described above.

When the cleaning work of the thermal head 18 is, for example, selectedand requested by operating the navigation keys 26, the enter key 28 andthe like on the above guidance screen, a thermal head cleaning work isspecified as the display type (Step S2) and moving images of thatmaintenance work (cleaning work) are continuously displayed on theliquid crystal display 29 (Step S5).

Also, in the case of transfer from Step S12 to Step S4 and Step S5, theabove navigation keys 26 and enter key 28 can be used as the guidecommand buttons used by the operator. Assuming that the display of themoving images is already commanded in Step S12, a control can beexecuted to automatically transfer from Step S4 to Step S5. Of course,in the case of transfer from Step S12 to Step S4 and Step S5, it is alsopossible to control to command the display of the moving images anewusing the guide command mark 29C such as by the “? mark” and the enterkey 28 as the guide command buttons as in the case of commanding amaintenance guide in the event of an error to transfer from Step S1 toSteps S4 and S5.

Accordingly, the operator can select the maintenance guide of themaintenance work he desires to confirm and improve a skill in theoperation of the thermal transfer label printer 1 by viewing the wholemoving images even if an unpredictable error occurs during a printissuing operation of the thermal transfer label printer 1.

In this way, the whole process of the maintenance guide from start toend is successively and continuously displayed at once on the displayunit 8 by the moving images by the operation of the guide command button(navigation keys 26, guide command mark 29C, enter key 28, etc.)provided to command the maintenance guide for the maintenance work whenan error occurs in the operation of the thermal transfer label printer 1or even if no error occurs. Thus, even an operator unfamiliar withvarious maintenance works can reliably perform the maintenance work atease after grasping the whole process of the maintenance guide.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been describedabove, the above embodiment is merely one application example of thepresent invention and not intended to limit the technical scope of thepresent invention to the specific configuration of the above embodiment.

1. A printer maintenance guide device, comprising: a display configuredto display a maintenance guide of a printer; a moving image memoryconfigured to store moving images, the moving images depicting a processof the maintenance guide; and a controller configured to control displayof the maintenance guide; determine that an error has occurred duringoperation of the printer; and display the moving images of themaintenance guide, corresponding to the error, on the display, inresponse to determining that the error has occurred and that a guidecommand is selected, wherein the moving images are photographed videoimages.
 2. The printer maintenance guide device of claim 1, wherein thecontroller is configured to: display a plurality of display areas, anddisplay at least the error and a guide command mark as a help icon formaintenance work to resolve the error, in response to determining thatthe error has occurred.
 3. The printer maintenance guide device of claim1, further comprising: an operation unit configured to permit operationof the display, wherein the controller is configured to control displayof the maintenance guide on the basis of a command by the operationunit.
 4. The printer maintenance guide device of claim 1, wherein thecontroller is configured to: play back moving images in response to arequest from a user.
 5. The printer maintenance guide device of claim 1,wherein the controller is configured to: display at least one of aplurality of scenes from the moving images in a still state for apredetermined time.
 6. The printer maintenance guide device according toclaim 1, wherein the controller is configured to: displaydiscontinuously only a portion of the maintenance guide.
 7. The printermaintenance guide device according to claim 1, wherein the controller isconfigured to: pause moving images in response to determining that auser is not proximate to the display.
 8. A printer maintenance guidedevice, comprising: a display configured to display a maintenance guideof a printer; an operation unit configured to permit operation of thedisplay; a moving image memory configured to store moving images, themoving images depicting a process of the maintenance guide; and acontroller configured to control display of the maintenance guide on thebasis of a command by the operation unit; and display moving images ofthe maintenance guide in response to determining that a guide command isselected, wherein the moving images are photographed video images. 9.The printer maintenance guide device of claim 8, wherein the controlleris configured to: display a plurality of display areas, and display atleast a guide command mark as a help icon for maintenance work.
 10. Theprinter maintenance guide device of claim 8, wherein the controller isconfigured to: control display of the maintenance guide on the basis ofa command by the operation unit.
 11. The printer maintenance guidedevice of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to: play backmoving images in response to a request from a user.
 12. The printermaintenance guide device of claim 8, wherein the controller isconfigured to: display at least one of a plurality of scenes from themoving images in a still state for a predetermined time.
 13. The printermaintenance guide device according to claim 8, wherein the controller isconfigured to: display discontinuously only a portion of the maintenanceguide.
 14. The printer maintenance guide device according to claim 8,wherein the controller is configured to: pause moving images in responseto determining that a user is not proximate to the display.
 15. Aprinter comprising: a controller comprising a processor and a memorystoring photographed video images; and a maintenance guide configured tobe controlled by the controller, wherein the controller is structuredto: determine that an error has or has not occurred during operation ofthe printer; and in response to a determination that an error hasoccurred, display the photographed video images corresponding to theerror.
 16. The printer of claim 15, further comprising: a displayconfigured to be divided into a plurality of display areas, and todisplay a guide command mark as a help icon for maintenance work toresolve an error, regardless of whether the error has occurred.
 17. Theprinter of claim 15, further comprising: a display configured to bedivided into a plurality of display areas, and to display at least theerror and a guide command mark as a help icon for maintenance work toresolve the error, in response to the determination that the error hasoccurred.
 18. The printer of claim 15, wherein the controller isconfigured to control display of the maintenance guide on the basis of acommand.
 19. The printer of claim 15, wherein the controller isconfigured to: pause display of the photographed video images inresponse to determining that a user is not proximate to a display, andresume display of the photographed video images in response todetermining that the user is proximate to the display.